In association with:

Forgotten man Reyes is Real hero

Adjust font size:

(CNN) -- Of all the players who might have been expected to play a starring role in Real Madrid's Spanish championship decider on Sunday against Real Mallorca -- the departing galacticos David Beckham or Roberto Carlos, Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose goals had carried Madrid to the brink of the title, club captain and icon Raul or world footballer of the year Fabio Cannavaro -- Jose Antonio Reyes was unlikely to have featured on many lists.

The 23-year-old forward had become the forgotten man of Spanish football since returning to his homeland from Arsenal at the start of the season in a loan deal.

Despite a few glimpses of the ability that made him a teenage prodigy at Sevilla, Reyes had struggled to make an impact at the Bernabeu, and looked set to see out a season of underachievement from the bench until Beckham hobbled out of the crucial game against Mallorca in the middle of the second half with Madrid one goal down.

Reyes made an almost instant impact, steering the ball in at the near post to level the match and then capping the title-clinching victory with a flourish by curling the ball into the corner from the edge of the penalty area.

From being a footnote to Real's season, Reyes had played his way onto the front pages as the man who brought the title back to the capital for the first time since 2003.

Perhaps it was no wonder Reyes was so motivated. After two disappointing seasons at Arsenal and with Real reportedly unconvinced that he has a future at the club, Reyes was not just playing for a medal but offering possible suitors a reminder of his talents.

Having tasted success, Reyes insists he wants to stay at the Bernabeu. "I hope they aren't my last goals for Real," he said. "Maybe what has happened will convince the club they would like to keep me."

But it seems unlikely Real will be ready to meet Arsenal's asking price for a player they paid $22 million for three years ago.

And with Reyes making it clear he has no desire to return to London, that makes a move to another Spanish club -- the most likely outcome.

This week his agent claimed three clubs were monitoring his situation, with Atletico Madrid and former club Sevilla reportedly among them.

Either would represent a step down after Sunday's heroics -- but at least Reyes can expect Madrid coach Fabio Capello to write him a glowing reference.

Tools:
Save |
Print |
E-mail |
Most Popular |

Next story in World Sport

World Sport

House won't rubber stamp Senate health bill, aides say

House Democrats are already home for the holidays, but they huddled on a conference call Wednesday afternoon to discuss the next steps in negotiating a fina ...